Belt type oil skimmer with horizonital rollers

Abstract

Apparatus for removing oil from the surface of a liquid, such as a coolant, employing an endless belt partially submerged in the liquid passing through the surface. The belt is threaded over the upper portion of a primary drive roller having a horizontal axis and pressure rollers mounted upon linkage sets are biased towards opposite sides of the primary roller in engagement with the belt to squeeze the collected oil from the belt permitting the oil to flow to a collector located below the rollers. The linkage sets include reversing rollers, and the apparatus is constructed to readily permit belt replacement.

I claim: 
     
       1. Apparatus for removing oil or the like from the horizontal surface of a body of liquid comprising, in combination, a frame adapted to be supported adjacent the body of liquid from which oil is to be removed, a primary elongated roller rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, said roller having an outer surface adapted to receive a substantially flat belt, a substantially flat endless belt having first and second sides, said belt first side engaging said roller, a pair of pressure rollers rotatably mounted on said frame movable toward and away from said primary roller, biasing means biasing said pressure rollers toward said primary roller, said pressure rollers being located substantially diametrically opposed to each other relative to said primary roller whereby said pressure rollers maintain said belt first side in engagement with approximately one half of the circumference of said primary roller, a motor mounted on said frame operatively connected to at least one of said rollers for rotating said rollers about their axes of rotation, and a collection receptacle mounted on said frame below said rollers receiving oil removed from said belt by said pressure rollers, said belt depending below said primary roller and pressure rollers and below said receptacle into the body of liquid from whose surface oil is removed. 
     
     
       2. In apparatus as in claim 1, said pressure rollers having substantially parallel axes of rotation substantially parallel to the axis of said primary roller. 
     
     
       3. In apparatus as in claim 1, first and second sets of linkages pivotally mounted upon said frame for movement toward and away from said pressure roller, one of said pressure rollers being mounted upon each linkage set, said biasing means comprising spring means interposed between said linkage sets biasing said linkage sets and said pressure rollers toward each other thereby biasing said pressure rollers into engagement with said second side of said belt. 
     
     
       4. In apparatus as in claim 3, a first reversing roller mounted upon said first linkage set, and a second reversing roller mounted upon said second linkage set, said reversing rollers each having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to said pressure roller mounted upon the associated linkage set. 
     
     
       5. In apparatus as in claim 4, quick release means supporting said reversing rollers upon the associated linkage set. 
     
     
       6. In apparatus as in claim 5, said first reversing roller having a belt engaging surface comprising a plurality of axially spaced discs of limited axial dimension whereby said first reversing roller engages said belt first side at limited locations. 
     
     
       7. In apparatus as in claim 6, said second reversing roller having a substantially cylindrical surface of continuous diameter throughout its axial length. 
     
     
       8. In apparatus as in claim 3, a control lever pivotally mounted upon one of said linkage sets and selectively operatively associated with positioning means defined upon the other linkage set whereby pivoting of said control lever in a first direction separates said pressure rollers from each other and from engagement with said belt second side. 
     
     
       9. In apparatus as in claim 1, said primary roller having a free cantilever end and a drive end, said motor being operatively connected to said primary roller drive end. 
     
     
       10. In apparatus as in claim 1, an oil retaining reservoir supporting said frame, and conduit means establishing communication between said collection receptacle and said retaining reservoir. 
     
     
       11. In apparatus as in claim 10, vertical adjustment means defined on said frame supporting said rollers, motor and collection receptacle for selective vertical adjustment on said frame, said conduit means including telescoping conduit members defined on said receptacle and said reservoir maintaining communication between said receptacle and reservoir at all positions of said adjustment means. 
     
     
       12. In apparatus as in claim 1, said endless belt including a reversing loop at its lowermost position, said reversing loop including a U-shaped bracket having a base and substantially parallel legs, a shaft extending between said legs, a roller rotatably mounted on said shaft, said belt extending between said roller and said base, and a weight defined upon said reversing loop base. 
     
     
       13. In apparatus as in claim 1, gears defined upon said primary and pressure rollers, said gears defined upon said pressure rollers meshing with said primary roller gear when said pressure rollers are in engagement with said belt first side. 
     
     
       14. Apparatus for removing oil or the like from the horizontal surface of a body of liquid comprising, in combination, a frame adapted to be supported adjacent the body of liquid from which oil is to be removed, a primary elongated roller rotatably mounted on said frame for rotation about a substantially horizontal axis, said roller having an outer surface adapted to receive a substantially flat belt, a substantially flat endless belt having first and second sides, said belt first side engaging said roller, a pair of pressure rollers rotatably mounted on said frame, said pressure rollers being located upon opposite sides of said primary roller whereby said pressure rollers maintain said belt first side in engagement with the circumference of said primary roller, a motor mounted on said frame operatively connected to at least one of said rollers for rotating said rollers about their axes of rotation, and a collection receptacle mounted on said frame below said rollers receiving oil removed from said belt by said pressure rollers, said belt depending below said primary roller and pressure rollers and below said receptacle into the body of liquid from whose surface oil is to removed, said pressure roller first receiving said belt having an axis of rotation obliquely oriented to the horizontal and non-parallel to the axis of said primary roller. 
     
     
       15. Apparatus for removing oil or the like from the horizontal surface of a body of liquid comprising, in combination, a frame a frame housing adjustably mounted on said frame for selective vertical adjustment thereto, a primary drive roller rotatably mounted on said frame having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation and an outer cantilevered end, an inner end, and a substantially cylindrical circumference, an electric motor mounted on said frame housing operatively connected to said primary roller inner end for rotating said primary roller about its axis, an endless flat belt having first and second sides extending about said primary roller and including a loop portion depending below said housing adapted to be submerged in the body of liquid from which oil is to be removed, said belt extending about said primary roller wherein said first side engages said roller circumference, first and second linkage sets pivotally mounted on said frame adjacent said primary roller for movement toward and away from said primary roller, a first pressure roller rotatably mounted on said first linkage set and a second pressure roller rotatably mounted upon said second linkage set, spring means biasing said linkage sets towards each other, said pressure rollers being located substantially diametrically opposed to each other relative to said primary roller whereby said biasing means biases said pressure rollers towards said belt second side for maintaining engagement of said belt first side with approximately one half of said primary roller circumference, a reversing roller mounted upon each of said linkage sets, quick release means supporting each reversing roller upon its associated linkage set, said endless belt adapted to pass over the circumference of said reversing rollers and under said pressure rollers and over the upper circumferential region of said primary roller, linkage positioning means selectively associated with said linkage sets for separating said linkage sets to selectively displace said pressure rollers away from said primary roller for permitting said endless belt to be mounted upon said primary roller, a collection receptacle mounted on said frame housing below said primary and pressure rollers collecting oil removed from said belt by said rollers, and an oil removing conduit in communication with said collection receptacle. 
     
     
       16. In apparatus as in claim 15, said endless belt including a reversing loop at its lowermost portion, a weight roller supported within said loop having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the surface of the body of liquid from which oil is being removed. 
     
     
       17. In apparatus as in claim 15, gears defined on said primary and pressure rollers, said gears defined on said pressure rollers meshing with said primary roller gear when said pressure rollers are engaging said endless belt second side. 
     
     
       18. Apparatus for removing oil or the like from the horizontal surface of a body of liquid comprising, in combination, a frame, a frame housing adjustably mounted on said frame for selective vertical adjustment thereto, a primary drive roller rotatably mounted on said frame having a substantially horizontal axis of rotation and an outer cantilevered end, an inner end, and a substantially cylindrical circumference, an electric motor mounted on said frame housing operatively connected to said primary roller inner end for rotating said primary roller about is axis, an endless flat belt having first and second sides extending about said primary roller and including a loop portion depending below said housing adapted to be submerged in the body of liquid from which oil is to be removed, said belt extending about said primary roller wherein said first side engages said roller circumference, first and second linkage sets pivotally mounted on said frame adjacent said primary roller, a first pressure roller rotatably mounted on said first linkage set and a second pressure roller rotatably mounted upon said second linkage set, spring means biasing said linkage sets towards each other, said pressure rollers being located upon opposite sides of said primary roller whereby said biasing means biases said pressure rollers towards said belt second side for maintaining engagement of said belt first side with said primary roller circumference, a reversing roller mounted upon each of said linkage sets, quick release means supporting each reversing roller upon its associated linkage set, said endless belt adapted to pass over the circumference of said reversing rollers and under said pressure rollers and over the upper circumferential region of said primary roller, linkage positioning means selectively associated with said linkage sets for separating said linkage sets to selectively displace said pressure rollers away from said primary roller for permitting said endless belt to be mounted upon said primary roller, a collection receptacle mounted on said frame housing below said primary and pressure rollers collecting oil removed from said belt by said rollers, and an oil removing conduit in communication with said collection receptacle, said pressure roller first receiving said belt having an axis of rotation obliquely oriented to the horizontal and non-parallel to the axis of said primary roller.